PT-1 "Divine Power and Success" (John 21:6-14)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 6/9/2017 8:30 AM

My Worship Time                                                          Focus:  PT-1“Divine Power and Success”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  John 21:6-14

            Message of the verses:  “6 And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch." So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord." So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish. 9 So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have now caught." 11 Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples ventured to question Him, "Who are You?" knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish likewise. 14 This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.”

            I have to say that whenever I look at this passage, the part where Jesus tells His disciples to cast the net on the right side of the boat it makes me think that they had been throwing it on the “wrong” side of the boat.  Now I suppose that Jesus meant the right hand side of the boat, but when you think of it being the wrong side of the boat that they were casting the net it kind of goes along with what the disciples were doing, and that is going back to the business of fishing instead of fishing for souls. 

            The story seems to indicate that none of the disciples at first knew who this man was standing on the shore giving directions to these experienced fishermen.  The way that the disciples were fishing took a lot of effort as it was harder than just throwing a line out into the water and hope you catch a fish.  They were throwing a net out into the water and then pulling the net back in which took a lot more effort and so after fishing all night they were tired but they listened to the man on the shore.  The Following is a song written by Michael Card entitled “Stranger on the Shore.”

In the early morning mist
They saw a Stranger on the sea shore
He some how seemed familiar
Asking what the night had brought
With taught anticipation then
They listen to His order
And pulling in the net
Found more than they had ever caught
The one He loved first recognized
The stranger there was Jesus
And he alone remembered
This had happened once before
The one who had denied Him
Who had once walked on the water
Jumped in and swam to Him
To be confronted on the shore

You need to be confronted
By the Stranger on the shore
You need to have Him search your soul
You need to hear the call
You need to learn exactly
What it means for you to follow
You need to realize that He's asking for it all

The meal He had prepared for them
Was waiting on the fire
The smell of bread
The sizzle of the fish upon the coals
The laughter and the joy
That once more being all together
They didn't realize that He was searching all their souls
Then came the painful questions
That would pierce the soul of Simon
A three fold chance to reaffirm the love he had denied
The gentle eyes that saw his heart
And waited for an answer
Had seen the look upon his face
The moment he had lied

You need to be confronted
By the Stranger on the shore
You need to have Him search your soul
You need to hear the call
You need to learn exactly
What it means for you to follow
You need to realize that
He's asking for it all

Now realize that you must
Face and answer all His questions
As you stand before the Stranger
On the shore inside your heart

            I have highlighted a couple of places in this song and at this time I want to talk about the first highlighted place “And he alone remembered this had happened once before.”  It did happen in a similar way as we will look at in the closing part of this SD.  First we want to comment on the fact that these seasoned fishermen followed the things that this stranger on the shore had asked them to do and they caught a great number of fish, 153 to be exact, and as far as any spiritual meaning to that number I haven’t heard of any, but I sure some people think there is. 

            John MacArthur writes “The parallel between this incident, which led to the disciples’ (especially Peter’s) recommissioning, and their original call to be Jesus disciples is stunning.”  We will now look at Luke 5:1-7 in closing.

Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; 2 and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. 3 And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat. 4 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." 5 Simon answered and said, "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets." 6 When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; 7 so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink.”

Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I have to say that there are times when I am fishing on the wrong side of the boat like the disciples were.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  “6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Jeroboam” (1 Kings 22:52).

Today’s Bible question:  “In what language was the New Testament written?”

6/9/2017 9:08 AM